Ngāti Ranginui, an iwi of Tauranga Moana, has had the first reading of its settlement legislation.

The Iwi signed off a Deed of Settlement with the Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson on June 21, 2012, at a ceremony at Te Ranga.

Minister of Treaty Negotiations Minsiter Christopher Finlayson. File photo.

The Bill was introduced on November 3, 2015, and today, almost four years since Deed signing, received its first reading in Parliament.

The legislation also includes collective redress for the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective.

The Athenree forest is a key commercial asset which the Tauranga Collective will share with Hauraki iwi.

The House of Representatives sat through extended sitting hours this morning to pass the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress and Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngāti Pūkenga Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill through their first readings.

The bills have been referred to the Māori Affairs Committee.

'These bills provide important redress and acknowledgement of the wrongs of the past for these groups,” says Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson.

'Today we reflect on the history and future of Tauranga Moana iwi and of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa in the Far North.”

The Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress and Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill is an omnibus bill. It will give effect to the collective redress of three iwi centred around the Tauranga Harbour (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga).

The bill will also give effect to the individual settlement of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui.

The Ngāti Pūkenga Claims Settlement Bill will give effect to the individual settlement of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Tauranga Moana iwi Ngāti Pūkenga.

The Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill will give effect to the full and final settlement of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa, a claimant group whose area of interest lies between the Whangaroa and Mangonui Harbours in the Far North.

'For the second time in less than a month the House has sat in extended sitting hours to progress Treaty legislation,” says Christopher.

'The cross party support for these Treaty bills demonstrates the importance of resolving all historical Treaty claims in a fair, just and timely way.”

Spokesperson for Ngāti Ranginui, chairperson Te Pio Kawe says Ngāti Ranginui are the only iwi in Tauranga who endured 'raupatu (confiscations) and our people and tūpuna have been waiting a long time for this moment to come”.

The settlement is the largest iwi settlement in Tauranga and recognises the tribal lands that were confiscated in the 1860s by the Crown.

'The hapū (subtribes) are really looking forward to receiving their cultural and commercial redress assets to empower them and provide better outcomes for their beneficiaries.”

Rob Urwin, a Director of the Ngāti Ranginui Limited Partnership and Trustee on the

Settlement Trust is looking forward to receiving the commercial assets of the Tauranga Boys

College and Tauranga Primary school land.

'We have been successful in receiving commercial assets that recognise the mana whenua of Ngāti Ranginui across the Te Papa peninsular. Education is a key strategy for our Settlement Trust and beneficiaries,” says Rob.

'The objective is to give students a sense of belonging. The Trust recognises that a solid cultural base and a good education can lead to better employment opportunities and economic independence, locally, nationally and internationally.”

Ngāti Ranginui continue to work closely with the Crown to ensure that their settlement is completed.

A key component of the settlement that is yet to be introduced into legislation is the Tauranga Moana Framework.

'Ngāti Ranginui will never be fully settled without our Moana,” says Te Pio Kawe.

'This legislation is important to us as is the health of the Moana. We continue to work with neighbouring iwi, local councils and the Crown to finalise this significant aspect of our settlement.”